Lush Vlad

Have you not learnt from previous seasons? Write off City at your peril. They always finish strong and we’re not even halfway through yet.

Why not? You’re seemingly unstoppable at home. They’ll be without Rodri, Grealish and I’m guessing Count Dooku. Plus they have conceded 10 goals in their last 4 games.

City having a bit of a wobble by their standards. Poor against Liverpool second half. Threw a lead away. 4-4 with Chelsea before that. Chucked the lead away 2-3 times. Then 3-3 at home and blew the lead twice, again.

Yep. Brighton and all.

Madri Ten Hag is awful. I get the club is badly run. But he has to take plenty of the blame. He has been there a while now and I have no clue what his style is supposed to be? Are they a counter attacking side, direct, possession based, high pressing? They don’t seem to have any discernible style. Looks like 11 strangers on the pitch when I’ve seen them this season. If he seemed to have a long term plan and the fans and club could tell what it was. Would he not get more slack even though the results are bad? Like I said, I have no idea what he’s trying to build or how he wants his team to play. When he has been backed to go and get his man. He has spent a lot of money and not massively improved the squad. All outside looking in, of course. Probably wide of the mark with some stuff.

Liverpool v Fulham game is decent. Proper end to end. Getting a stitch just watching it.

I think at home we would absolutely annihilate them, injuries, weakened team or not. Away just gives off banana skin vibes. Still interesting and decent to finally get a derby game.

According to his cousin. He thinks it is the same one he dislocated before.

Had one Man U fan trying to play down the result “well it was only 1-0, we’ve got injuries and had an 18 year old and Maguire playing.” Yes. Because we were at full strength and didn’t have a 17 year old playing

creased at this.

I don’t know how to word this without it making it sound like I’m insulting him and saying he is slow. But it is as if the game and the ball moves a lot slower for him than everyone else. Looks so calm and measured with everything he does. Never seems flustered or rushed. Does the simple things really well and effectively. He certainly plays beyond his years.

Yep. Said the other day during the PSG game to a few mates. Why do pundits and other fans keep saying we’ll out grow Howe? Is he not the main reason we are where we are?! We will keep developing as a club and he will as a manager. He should be here for a long time and I hope that ends up being the case.

He is great on the ball. Fast and direct when dribbling. But on what I have seen since he has been here (I can’t properly comment on his Saints days). I don’t get the idea of wanting to play him further forward? He looks like he absolutely loves defending and he is world class at it. He’s a monster when squared up one on one with a winger and they very rarely get past. Carrying the ball from deep is totally different to receiving the ball higher up the pitch, possibly back to goal at time. He’d be more tightly marked, less room to operate, expected to make runs in behind etc etc. To me, he looks like the perfect modern day full back.

Got the replay on. Fuck me, he is quality. Should start having a pop when he gets a yard. Always looks like he wants to keep running across the pitch so he can beat a few more players

Already matched his league goals total for Everton. In less than half the games. General consensus seemed to be that he was good on the ball, quick and worked hard (along with all the other stuff ). But that he needed to improve on his output. He has certainly done that with his goal involvements this year.

This has a rat boy Bruno 90+1 0-1 written all over it. Not even watching and that’s the vibe I am getting.

Are many people criticising him, though? Most, not all. Seem to be merely pointing out that he was understandably exhausted. Which was why his touch was off and his pace wasn’t there. I see it as more of an observation and one of the reasons why we struggled after 55-60 minutes. Not a necessarily a slight on Isak and saying he was poor, has to do better, not good enough etc. In an ideal world. He would have been subbed for Wilson after 60 and we could have brought on fresh legs out wide and in midfield as well. I guess Isak was just the most noticeable.

Considering that by his standards. He looked like he was towing a caravan when he tried to sprint. I would say he was gassed, yeah.

Get a lead early enough in the game and I think we do these relatively easily. A tight game and needing a goal with 60-70 gone. Then I think we come unstuck.

Guessing it’ll be off his podcast with Antonio?

I thought he was mainly style over substance for the most part. Ironic that he demands to play on the left and drift about/do sod all off the ball. But looked far more dangerous and really affected the game when he went through the middle. Which is where Madrid want him to play by all accounts. Think he comes across like a bit of a bellend, TBH. All of the stuff about being a director and supposedly having a say in how the club is run, what players are signed, what tactics they use. Even if that's half true, that's embarrassing as fuck from PSG.

Got it on now. Even PSG fan Laurens somehow taking our side more than that twat Guillem Ballache. Kind of had a point to start with, with what he was saying. But then seemed to go more and more into saying the mistake should be accepted, because we played badly and PSG deserved to win Cup competitions always have teams that win games or get results when they were second best. Real Madrid have won 2-3 CL's in my lifetime where I think they have been poor by their standards for the most part. Liverpool in '05 were not the best team in Europe FFS. Arsenal in the FA Cup that year (2004?) where they drew 0-0 and then beat Man U on pens? These are just really obvious examples that have come to mind. Absolute nonsense from Guillem.

Plenty of upset away wins in the CL, or any competition for that matter. Rely heavily on defending like warriors, top level goalkeeping, good fortune and wasteful finishing from the other team. When Chelsea won the CL, Barca away was massively one sided from memory. I doubt their fans care and I don't remember a media narrative about how lucky they were, or how Barca deserved to win, had better chances etc. xG has a lot to answer for

I know if you're being a glass half empty type. That it could all just be a good PR move from Howe with what he does with the players at the end. But I do love how they always come to the away end for a good while or do a bit of lap at home. It has just made the connection that much better after years of fans feeling disillusioned with the owner, manager, players. Or all three! I feel like these players genuinely care more and the fans are more patient and understanding with the squad because of the way they now conduct themselves before, during and after. Bad bits of play, poor results etc. I feel like most fans are far more lenient now and not so quick to abuse everyone.

I really hope he said 'Mam'